USE THIS SPACE TO PROMOTE

Eddie Perfect and Lyndon Watts star inSydney premiere of Candide

Lyndon Watts in Victorian Opera's Candide 2024. Credit Charlie Kinross.

“The best of all possible productions” – Australian Book Review

Tony Award nominated composer Eddie Perfect and renowned musical theatre star Lyndon Watts lead the cast of Dean Bryant’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s brilliant satirical operetta Candide, when it makes its Sydney premiere in the Joan Sutherland Theatre on February 20.

Star of the stage and screen, and composer of the Broadway smash hit Beetlejuice The Musical, Eddie Perfect will play the roles of both Pangloss and Voltaire, the latter of which narrates the adventures of the title character performed by Australian musical theatre royalty, Hamilton star Lyndon Watts.

Fast-paced and funny, award-winning director Dean Bryant’s burlesque-style staging is set after a climate apocalypse, with renaissance costumes by Dann Barber, lighting by Matt Scott and choreography by Freya List forming an accomplished all-Australian creative team.

Euan Fistrovic Doidge will make his OA debut as Maximilian and Eddie Muliaumaseali’i will have his first Sydney Opera House performance as Cacambo, after a record number of 14 performances in the OA’s National Tour spanning the past 25 years. Musical theatre cross-over star Annie Aitkin will perform as Cunegonde, ahead of her taking the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage as Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls.

One of Australia’s foremost choral conductors, Brett Weymark, will guide the OA Orchestra through the Victorian Opera production of Leonard Bernstein’s vibrant score, featuring the orchestral favourite overture, soprano showpiece ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ and touching choral ‘Make Our Garden Grow’ finale. Based on Voltaire’s famous novella of the same name, Candide is a philosophical satire following an optimist’s journey through a series of adventures that open his eyes to the reality of the world around him.

February 20 – March 14, 2025 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House


Creatives
Conductor Brett Weymark
Director Dean Bryant
Set & Costume Designer Dann Barber
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Choreographer Freya List

Cast
Voltaire / Pangloss Eddie Perfect
Candide Lyndon Watts
Cunegonde Annie Aitken
Old Lady Dominica Matthews
Maxmilian Euan Fistrovic Doidge
Paquette Cathy-Di Zhang
Cacambo Eddie Muliaumaseali’i
Governor / Vanderdendur John Longmuir
Martin Andrew Moran
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

Performance information
Evenings at 7.30pm
February 20, 22
March 6, 8, 11, 14
Wednesday Matinee at 12.30pm February 26
Saturday Matinee at 12.30pm March 1

Running time
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval.
Performed in English

This production contains mature content, depictions of hanging and flogging, atmospheric haze, strobe lightning effects, loud thunder, and simulated explosion sounds.

Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au
Joan Sutherland Theatre,
Sydney Opera House

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